Share this
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Yahoo
Googlize this
Facebook
Export PDF
Print
E-mailA hobby is something we do for pleasure, a perfect boredom buster and refuge from humdrum work. We all need a break every now and then -- and indulge on a hobby or two for enjoyment and relaxation.
There are so many past-time activities that give us delight and gratification. Some of us like singing, dancing, hiking, reading, painting, sculpting, gardening, playing computer games, creative writing, blogging, taking up sports and collecting things. However, there are some individuals who enjoy doing extraordinary things.
Here are some unusual hobbies that not too many people dabble in:
Cosplay
Young kids love to wear costumes and play make believe. If kids can have fun playing dress up and get away with it, why can’t they continue to do so as adults? In the world of cosplay, adults enjoy dressing up as their favorite characters.
Cosplay is derived from the English words "costume" and "roleplay". People who have the flair for Japanese comic books known as manga, anime, and video games get a chance to dress up as their favorite characters. The common goal of cosplay is interpretation which means absorbing one’s character just like what a stage actor normally does when performing a role on stage.
"Cosplaying has become a fashion trend in the world of Japanese anime culture and I want to experience becoming the character I admire. Cosplaying is also a form of art. Imitating different characters on stage is no different from acting. And I like to entertain people that way. I also want to show people that cosplaying is not only a fun hobby, it's a tool for mingling with others who have the same interests as me." - Chloebs de Asis, cosplayer
"I cosplay mainly because it is fun. It is a very interesting hobby that promotes creativity and craftsmanship while also building character." - Jerry Polence, cosplayer.
Making costumes for cosplay events and parties have become a work of art. In fact, some cosplayers have invested time and money to learn crafting specialties such as fashion design, face paint, sculpture, and fiber glasswork to enhance their ability in making their costumes. Many cosplayers work hard to adhere to the costumes worn by their favorite characters.
Once in costume, cosplayers usually enjoy acting in character. They adopt the body language and mannerisms of the characters they are portraying especially during photo and video opportunities. They also have OOC or "Out Of Character" moments when they go on breaks.
In the Philippines, cosplay is fast becoming a popular hobby. Various cosplay events are often organized during anime, manga, gaming, or sci-fi conventions. Some cosplayers also enjoy organizing social gatherings such as costume balls. Examples of famous cosplayers in the Philippines are Jin Joson and Alodia Gosiengfiao.
Cosplayers love to gather and appreciate other people’s costumes. They like to show off their elaborate and meticulous costumes, take pictures, and compete in “best costume” contests during cosplayer events and social meet-ups.
UFO spotting
The universe is so vast that for generations, explorers and scientists are still coming up with new techniques and methods to find out how big the universe really is.
Some people believe that we are not the only beings in the universe. People who believe in the possibility of the presence of extraterrestrial life find tales and sightings of alien species fascinating and worth checking.
UFO spotting is another unique hobby of some individuals. UFO spotting is looking for illuminated and out of the ordinary disc shapes in the sky.
People who go on UFO-spotting expedition, usually bring warm clothing, food and drinks, binoculars, camera, video camera, pen and paper, compass and a watch. This unusual hobby requires a lot of patience because it involves long hours of spending time in the dark on a hillside or other chosen venue.
On September 3, 2000, a 37-year old man named Antonio Israel claimed that he videotaped dancing lights in the evening sky in Carmela Homes IV in Las Piñas.
Ghost hunting
Ghost hunting is investigating places that are said to be haunted by ghosts. Professional ghost hunters use different kinds of electric equipment such as EMF meter, digital video cameras, digital audio recorder, digital thermometer, night vision and computer to collect and record paranormal activity.
Jaime T. Licauco, a paranormal expert in the Philippines and the president of the Inner Mind Development Institute warns people from ghosting hunting for the heck of it. In an article in Inquirer.net, Licauco said that he discourages, “calling on spirits just for the sake of fun. They should not be disturbed. If it is they who want to communicate with the living because of some unfinished business, then it is all right to talk to them so they can be at peace.”
He added, “There are different types of spirits—higher or positive spirits and lower or negative spirits. If one doesn’t come prepared, there may be negative consequences, such as possession. Some spirits may retaliate.”
Taphophilia
Some individuals take pleasure in reading about cemetery history, spending time at cemeteries, celebrating the day of the dead, reading and writing epitaphs, conducting gravestone rubbing and taking pictures of gravestones and other things found in the graveyard. It might sound like a creepy hobby but there are people who are passionate about it.
Geo-caching
Geo-caching is a hi-tech approach to scavenger hunting. It is an exciting outdoor treasure hunting game where players try to find hidden containers called geocaches using GPS-enabled devices. The geocache is usually a small plastic container that keeps small objects like coins or toys.
This kind of hobby often involves a lot of searching and hiking. When a treasure finder finds a hidden geocache, he signs the logbook and returns it to its original location. Players enjoy sharing their geo-caching stories and experiences with other treasure seekers online.
Locksport
Have you heard of picking locks as a hobby? Locksport is a group activity where hobbyists practice the skill of lock picking. According to some locksport members, they indulge in lock picking for recreation and social and competitive purposes and not for any foul or dishonest intentions. This hobby is increasingly becoming popular because of awareness of lock and safe related vulnerabilities. Locksport has been coined to distinguish hobbyists from locksmiths and people who use knowledge of lock picking for illegal purposes.
Photos: “Jerryp” from Wikipilipinas.org; “Hartleton Cemetery” by Gerry Dincher, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved; “Lockpicking Village” from Lockwiki.
Videos: Philippine UFO Sighting Part 1-A by tonyisrael, c/o Youtube; GHI Season 1 Clark Hospital Angeles City Philippines Part 1 by erapo sadas c/o Youtube.
-----------------------------
Rachel Yapchiongco, also known as Rach to her friends, is a Psychology and Marketing Management graduate of De La Salle University. She took up several units of MBA at the same university. Rachel is a full-time mom to a charming young boy and married to an entrepreneur with a passion for cooking. She shares parenting experiences and slices of everyday life on her personal blog called Heart of Rachel.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
